In his recent Opinion page article in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Loras College President James Collins noted that “In tough economic times, the focus is often directed toward short-term concerns …  making poor decisions from a long-term perspective.”  Collins further states that “a good education is essential to weathering any economy – good or bad.”

Like higher education, study abroad is an investment in your future.  As with any other type of investment, it requires planning, careful management, perseverance and commitment. The personal, academic and professional rewards, however, will last a lifetime.

An international experience is never more affordable than it is during your college years. You have access to financial aid, loans, special grants and scholarships. Most students find that a semester study abroad program costs only $2,000-$4,000 more than a semester at UW-Platteville. For others, the cost is the same or even less. Ask anyone who has traveled abroad as a tourist and they will tell you that $2,000-$4,000 will only buy you a two to three weeks vacation in Europe, not three to four months as a student engaged in another culture.

According to the 2008 Open Doors Report, from the Institute of International Education, the number of U.S. students studying abroad increased by 8 percent to a total of 241,791 in the 2006-07 academic year. This latest increase marks a decade of unprecedented growth in the number of U.S. students receiving academic credit for their overseas academic experience. It shows an increase of close to 150 percent, from under 100,000 in 1996-97 to nearly a quarter of a million in 2006-07.

We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of UW-P students studying abroad – nearly a 200 percent increase since 2002-03 – with a large majority participating in programs lasting 8 weeks or less. UW-P students are studying abroad on six continents, in more than 30 different countries.

Why are more students studying abroad? U.S. students recognize that our world is increasingly interdependent and these experiences increase mutual understanding and provide students with direct knowledge and career relevant skills.  Globalization is more than a buzz word – it is an economic reality necessitating the ability to interact with individuals from diverse cultures.

A fall 2008 survey of 325 first-year students at UW-P revealed that a large percentage of students see study abroad as a realistic part of their undergraduate experience.  They view study abroad as important to their personal development and believe that it can help them find a better job when they graduate.

At the fall 2008 Career Fair, we asked 219 employers to complete a survey about study abroad and how it is perceived within their industry. When employers were asked if education abroad enhances an undergraduate’s lifelong career opportunities, 89 percent agreed or strongly agreed. According to the representative from Dow Agro Science, “International experience can be the ‘tie-breaker.’”

Allan E. Goodman, President & CEO of the Institute of International Education said, “Experiences afforded through study abroad provide U.S. students with the skills needed to live in today’s world and needs to be a component of every student’s education, equipping them for 21st century careers and for global citizenship.”

In today’s economy, the question is not “Can you afford to study abroad?” – The question is “Can you afford not to study abroad?”